Work-crew escapee stole truck at water-treatment plant, police say

Thursday

Aug 8, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 9, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Authorities still are searching for a prisoner who escaped from a work crew in Madison County, but he appears to have a distinctive ride and plenty of fuel. Authorities think Spencer Johnson, 28, entered the lot of the West Jefferson water-treatment plant and stole a truck early yesterday.

Randy Ludlow, The Columbus Dispatch

Authorities still are searching for a prisoner who escaped from a work crew in Madison County, but he appears to have a distinctive ride and plenty of fuel.

Authorities think Spencer Johnson, 28, entered the lot of the West Jefferson water-treatment plant and stole a truck early yesterday.

A pair of soaked boots found near where the truck was parked was identified by state prison officials as prison-issue footwear, Ward said.

Video surveillance showed the truck driving through a rear gate and then through a separate gate at the front of the water plant at 12:50 a.m. Damage to the chain-link gates was estimated at $3,000.

A bulletin was issued to alert police both in Ohio and other states to be on the lookout for the vehicle, Ward said.

Ward speculated that Johnson hid in the West Jefferson area, perhaps along Little Darby Creek, before stealing the truck. The keys to the truck, owned by MRM Construction of Gallipolis, were left inside, he said.

Johnson was part of a four-man crew from London Correctional Institution picking up trash along I-70 near Rt. 29, west of West Jefferson, when he ran off about 2 p.m. Monday.

Johnson entered the prison system in April from Fayette County and was serving a three-year sentence for burglary.